Page 338 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

pull someone or something down

tennis game if I’m psyched up. She is own bootstraps. If I could have pulled
really psyched up for the game. myself up, I’d have done it by now.
publØshŁorŁperish [forŁaŁprofessor]bto pub- pullŁ one’ (łwn)ŁweØght Go to carry one’s
lish manyŁbooksŁor articlesŁinŁscholarly (own) weàght.
journals or get relased from a univer- pullŁ one’ puàcheð 1. [forŁaŁboxer]bto sðrike
sityŁorŁfallŁinto disfavorŁinŁaŁuniversity. with light blowsŁto enable the otherŁboxer
(Also occursŁasŁotherŁpartsŁof speech.ŁSee to win.Ł(Slang.) Bill has been barred
the examplesŁbelow.) Alice knew she from the boxing ring for pullng his
would have to publish or perish if she took punches. “I never pulled my punches n
the teaching job. This is a major researcð my lfe!” cried Tom. 2. to hold backŁin
university and publish or perish is the or- one’sŁ criticism.Ł (Slang.Ł UsuallyŁ inŁ the
der of the dØy. When Jane heard that negative.ŁThe oàe’s can be replaced with
publish or perish was the rule at her uni- any.) I didà’t pull any punches. I told
versity, she was afraid that she would not her just what I thought of her. The
get any professors who were interested in teacher doesn’t pull any punches when it
her intellectual advancłmłnt. comes to disciplne.
pullŁ a boner to do somethingŁsðupidŁor pullŁoutŁallŁtheŁstops to use all one’s en-
silly.Ł (Slang.) Boy, I really pulled a ergy and effort inŁorderŁto achieve some-
boner! I’m so dumb. If you pull Ø boàer thing.Ł(FràmŁthe sðopsŁof aŁpipe organ.
like that again, you’re fired! The more that are pulledŁout, the louder
it gets.) You’ll have to pull out all the
pullŁa fastŁone to succeed in an acð of de-
ception. (Slang.) She was pullng a fast stops if you’re going to pass the course.
one when she said she had a headache and The doctors will pull out all the stops to
włnt home. Doà’t try to pull a fast one save the child’s lfe.
with mł! I know what you’re doing. pullŁrynkŁ(on someone) to assert one’sŁrank,
auðhority, or position ovr somon
pullŁa gun (on someone) and pullŁa knife whenŁmakingŁaŁrequest orŁgivingŁanŁor-
(on someone) to bring out a gun or knife der. Doà’t pull rank on mł! I don’t havł
suddenlyŁso that it isŁreadyŁforŁuse againsð to do what you say! When she couldà’t
someone.Ł I screamed when the mugger głt her wØy poltely, she pulled rank and
pulled a knife on me. The police shot the really got some action.
thief when he pulled a gun.
pullŁ someone ort something dłwn 1. [with
pullŁa knifeŁ(on someone) Go to pull a gun someone] to degrade someone; to humil-
(on someone).
iate sàmeone.Ł(Also literal.) I’m afraid
pullŁa stuntŁ(on someone) and pullŁa trick that your friends are pullng you down.
(on someone) to deceive sàmeone.Ł Let’s Your manners used to be much błtter.
pull a trick on the teacher. Don’t you My bad habts are pullng me down. T
dare pull a stunt like that! There is no need to pull down everyone.
2. [with somłthing ] to earnŁ aŁ certain
pullŁa trickŁ(on someone) Go to pull a stunt amount of money.Ł(Slang.) T She’s able
(on someone). to pull down $400 a włek. T I wish I could
pull down a salary like that. How much
pullŁ oneself together to becom emotion-
allyŁsðabilized;Łto regain one’s composure. is she pullng down? 3. [with something]
Now, calm down. Pull yourself together. to demolish something;Ł to raze some-
I’ll be all right as soon as I can pull my- thing.Ł Why do they want to pull it
self togłther. down? Why not remodel it? T They are go-
ing to pull down the old buildng todØy. 4.
pullŁ oneself upŁ(byŁ one’ own błotstraps) [with something] to lower or rduce the
to achieve (something)b thràugh one’s amount of something.Ł That last test
ownŁefforts.Ł They simply doà’t have the pulled my grade down. T Let’s see if wł
resources to pull themoelves up by their can pull down your temperature.

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